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Inside the Bristol Beacon(Image: Elliot Simpson\/Soul Media)<\/p>\nThe Britton Organ makes its triumphant returnInside the Bristol Beacon(Image: Elliot Simpson\/Soul Media)<\/p>\n
Bristol Beacon is striking a celebratory note with the unveiling of its newly renovated Grade II listed organ, while announcing an expansive 2025\/2026 orchestral season packed with performances from leading national and international ensembles.<\/p>\n
The season will see Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra continue its residency and the London Symphony Orchestra return as associate orchestra, alongside appearances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The Hall\u00e9, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. International visitors include orchestras from Spain, the Czech Republic and Poland.<\/p>\n
Organist Anna Lapwood will open the season with a recital showcasing the refurbished Harrison & Harrison pipe organ, now renamed The Britton Organ. Removed during renovation works in 2018 and restored in Durham, the instrument returns to Beacon Hall as a centrepiece of the programme. Anna will also perform Poulenc\u2019s Organ Concerto and Saint-Sa\u00ebns\u2019 Symphony No. 3 \u2018Organ\u2019 with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chlo\u00e9 Van Soeterst\u00e8de on Tuesday, June 17.<\/p>\n
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under chief conductor Mark Wigglesworth, will present five concerts. Highlights include the UK performance of Dani Howard\u2019s Saxophone Concerto featuring Jess Gillam on Thursday, November 6, following its premiere in Poole. The orchestra will also collaborate with soloists Sir Stephen Hough, Clara-Jumi Kang and Alexandre Tharaud.<\/p>\n
The London Symphony Orchestra will perform three concerts. Sir Antonio Pappano will conduct Thea Musgrave\u2019s Phoenix Rising and Walton\u2019s Viola Concerto with soloist Antoine Tamestit on Saturday, December 13. Sir Simon Rattle returns to lead Strauss\u2019 Four Last Songs and Mahler\u2019s Symphony No. 4 with soprano Lucy Crowe on Thursday, May 29. The ensemble will also perform Elgar\u2019s The Dream of Gerontius with the London Symphony Chorus on Tuesday, April 22.<\/p>\n
Simon Wales, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: \u201cClassical music is an important part of our varied programme here at Bristol Beacon, and we are proud to work with our partners at Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra to provide world-class orchestral music for our audiences. This season is particularly special with the unveiling of the renovated organ alongside a programme of concerts by visiting orchestras from around the UK and Europe. We hope the season offers something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming regulars, occasional attendees and first-time visitors to Bristol Beacon in the autumn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visiting UK orchestras include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Vasily Petrenko on Wednesday, October 16; the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with Osmo V\u00e4nsk\u00e4 and soprano Helena Juntunen on Thursday, November 20; The Hall\u00e9 with Kahchun Wong and violinist Viktoria Mullova on Tuesday, March 25; and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing the UK premiere of Joe Hisaishi\u2019s The Border for three horns on Wednesday, June 4.<\/p>\n
The Manchester Collective will make its debut in Lantern Hall on Friday, December 5, performing Wintering with the Marian Consort. They return on Monday, February 3, with a new work by Jasmine Morris and music by Arvo P\u00e4rt, Mica Levi, and others.<\/p>\n
International contributions include the Czech Jan\u00e1\u010dek Philharmonic with Jennifer Pike on Friday, February 14; the Spanish Galicia Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, April 10; and the Warsaw Philharmonic with pianist Alexandra Dariescu on Sunday, May 18.<\/p>\n
Before the main season begins in October, Bristol Beacon will again host a BBC<\/a> Proms residency during the August bank holiday<\/a>. Highlights include Paraorchestra with folk duo The Breath on Friday, August 22; Britten Sinfonia on Saturday, August 23; and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera with Carlo Rizzi and mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau on Sunday, August 24. A late-night live edition of BBC Radio 3\u2019s Late Junction , presented by Verity Sharp, will also take place in Lantern Hall on August 22.<\/p>\n Tickets go on sale from Thursday, May 23, with \u00a310 tickets available for under-26s at each concert.<\/p>\n